Letter to the editor: Ready for good 2018-19 school year in Redbird Country

Monday

Aug 20, 2018 at 12:01 AM

Summer has passed us by yet again and the 2018-19 school year is set to begin Wednesday, Aug. 22 in Redbird Country.

As the school year begins, we welcome back the L-P administrators, teachers, staff, volunteers and students for what hopes to be another good year of academics, athletics and artistic performances.

We also welcome some new faces to the team and some faces in different positions within the team. Specifically, we welcome Mr. Kelly Seboe as Budd School principal and wish him well in his new office. We also will be welcoming the following new employees: Kevin Maltarich, Nate Smith, Caryn Reisinger, Shelby VanSickle, Courtney Charlton and Catherine P. Kreakie. We wish all of the new teachers well in their new positions.

The practice fields and courts in Redbird Country have been busy as the golf team, the soccer teams, the volleyball team, the cross country teams and the football team began practices for their respective seasons. Good luck to all of the fall athletes and coaches during their seasons.

On the board side of the district, we are in the fourth year of our permanent improvement five-year plan and we are on schedule to complete the projects slated for year four and five as promised. Specifically, new windows at the high school campus have been installed and have given the buildings a fresh look. With the fifth year of the plan approaching, the board will be requesting that voters approve another five-year plan in November by renewing the permanent improvement levy to complete projects slated to begin in the summer of 2020 and thereafter. The complete list can be viewed on the district website or obtained by contacting the district office.

The district also has taken strides to create a safer learning environment and to promote a drug-free community by negotiating with the village for a school resource officer, adding additional hours to the school liaison position through the mental health and recovery board and creating the Drug Free Club in the schools. We continue to look for additional ways to enhance the learning environment for the students and welcome all input from district residents.

Finally, as the school year begins on Aug. 22, we encourage all citizens of the district, as you’re driving in and around the L-P district during school hours, to be mindful of the students traveling to and from school and encourage all student drivers to be cautious and safe as well.